phone

¹ American  

[fohn] / foʊn /

noun

1. telephone.

2. a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

---

verb (used with object)

phoned, phoning

1. to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.

2. to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object)

phoned, phoning

1. to send a message by telephone.

phone ² American  

[fohn] / foʊn /

noun

Phonetics.

1. a speech sound.

   There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”

---

-phone ³ American  

1. a combining form meaning “speech sound” (homophone ), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” (telephone ), “a musical instrument” (saxophone; xylophone ).

---

-phone ¹ British  

combining form

1. (forming nouns) indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off sound

   microphone

   telephone

2. (forming nouns and adjectives) (a person) speaking a particular language

   Francophone

---

phone ² British  

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. short for telephone

---

phone ³ British  

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

---

Other Word Forms

• -phonic combining form
• phonal adjective

Etymology

Origin of phone¹

First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Origin of phone²

First recorded in 1865–70, phone is from the Greek word phōnḗ voice

Origin of -phone³

phone ²

Example Sentences

“From a sector perspective, I think it is a unique product and quite differentiated relative to some of its biggest peers,” Ullal told MarketWatch in a phone interview on Tuesday.

From MarketWatch

As she spoke to her staff, Rock wailed silently on the baby monitor app on her phone.

From Los Angeles Times

Leave a book on the nightstand and the phone in the kitchen.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Either somebody has his phone,” Smart said, “or he learned how to text.”

From The Wall Street Journal

She can use this allotted friendcare time to chat on the phone, make plans over text, or meet up with someone in person.

From BBC

Related Words

• call up
• contact
• dial